Dream Theater Top 100 countdown - 2024 Version! (#01 Up!)

[Podaar]

19. Finally Free                11

18. Strange Deja Vu         19

17. Take The Time            24

[Lonk]

19. Finally Free #5. As good as SFAM is, this is the track that pushes it ahead of everything else for me. Because it takes a story that on the surface is alright, and gives it a twist to make it great (my opinion, of course). Plus, I always love how tense the ending is.

18. Strange Deja Vu #20 Great song.

17. Take The Time #31 This one goes up and down for me. But I think 31 is more or left where it belongs.

[Mladen]

Finally free was my #58. Not among my favorite songs on the album, but still a spectacular closer.

Strange deja vu, on the other hand, was my #34. Once again, a top five Dream Theater song when it comes to tracks shorter than six minutes.

Take the time was my #26. It's a classic with a tremendous performance by James LaBrie and a gorgeous outro solo.

How many lists were submited in total? I can see Strange deja vu made it onto 65 of them. That has to be all, right? 

[ReaperKK]

66 lists, I'm not sure if there is a song that made every list, but I wouldn't be surprised as we get closer to number 1

[Zydar]

Finally Free - 5

A magnificent ending to this glorious album, SFAM. The melodies are great, that drum outro/solo is epic.

Strange Deja Vu - 13

SFAM kicks off with the double punch Overture 1928 and this one (not counting Regression).

Take The Time - 8

Once again I have a song from Images And Words in my Top 10 Catchy stuff, and a belter of a singalong chorus.

[MirrorMask]

Ouch, big hit for my list!

19. Finally Free

It was my number 9. Masterpiece closing a masterpiece. Wonderful vocal lines, lot of melody, many theatrical stuff as well given the story finishing... this is DT at their very best. The live ending with the Metropolis theme reprise is also glorious. DT being so melodic, with so great vocal melodies, without having to renounce to some heaviness is possibily my very favorite thing about them.

18. Strange Deja Vu

Another masterpiece and one of their very best concise songs. What a way to (properly) start their magnum opus. It's very cinematic, I love little bits like the double bass joining for "there's a room at the top of the stairs", to underline the tension of Nicholas walking around in his memories, you just follow the scene.

A perfect song that in my previous attempts cracked the top 10 but now finished 11th.

17. Take The Time

Love it. Bombastic, catchy, from the first chorus to the "I can see much clearer now I'm blind" part it's a complete riot, James was unstoppable back then.

Side note - leaving aside James' human limits, I never liked how they de-powered the chorus during live shows; the backing line going higher "it's time to take the tiiiiime" is nerfed by saying in a generic way just "take the time" and also going lower.

Anyway, fantastic track and it was my 6th.

[Stadler]

157. The Dark Eternal Night
155. Hell's Kitchen
154. S2N
150. The Killing Hand
146. Disappear
145. Vacant
143. Honor Thy Father
142. Ytsejam
139. Panic Attack
138. Wither
135. Only A Matter Of Time
132. Barstool Warrior
127. Lines In The Sand
125. Stream Of Consciousness
124. Through Her Eyes
123. Never Enough
122. The Alien
121. Afterlife
120. A Fortune In Lies
118. In The Presence Of Enemies
109. Outcry
105. Sleeping Giant
104. Surrender To Reason
----
100.Slight chance of making the list at this point
99.  No chance of making the list at this point
98.  Another Day
97.  Awaken The Master
96.  Behind The Veil
95.  The Great Debate
94.  No chance of making the list at this point
93.  No chance of making the list at this point
92.  No chance of making the list at this point
91.  Slight chance of making the list at this point
90.  On The Backs Of Angels
89.  No chance of making the list at this point
88.  No chance of making the list at this point
87.  Finally Free Slight chance of making the list at this point
86.  No chance of making the list at this point
85.  Constant Motion
84.  Beneath The Surface
83.  At Wit's End
82.  Peruvian Skies
81.  Space Dye Vest
80.  The Enemy Inside
79.  Strong chance of making the list at this point
78.  Hollow Years
77.  Slight chance of making the list at this point
76.  The Shattered Fortress
75.  No chance of making the list at this point
74.  No chance of making the list at this point
73.  Lie
72.  No chance of making the list at this point
71.  No chance of making the list at this point
70.  No chance of making the list at this point
69.  The Mirror
68.  A Nightmare To Remember
67.  The Silent Man
66.  The Root Of All Evil
65.  The Spirit Carries On
64.  No chance of making the list at this point
63.  No chance of making the list at this point
62.  As I Am
61.  These Walls
60.  No chance of making the list at this point
59.  The Gift of Music
58.  Illumination Theory
57.  The Bigger Picture
56.  One Last Time
55.  Pale Blue Dot
54.  Answering The Call
53.  Strong chance of making the list
52.  Lost Not Forgotten
51.  Fall Into The Light
50.  Slight chance of making the list at this point
49.  No chance of making the list at this point
48.  Endless Sacrifice
47.  No chance of making the list at this point
46.  A New Beginning
45.  No chance of making the list at this point
44.  Forsaken
43.  A View From The Top Of The World
42.  Slight chance of making the list at this point
41.  The Looking Glass
40.  The Ministry Of Lost Souls
39.  No chance of making the list at this point
38.  The Dance Of Eternity
37.  Beyond This Life
36.  New Millenium
35.  Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
34.  Wait For Sleep
33.  Transcending Time
32.  Blind Faith
31.  The Best Of Times
30.  Erotomania
29.  Strong chance of making the list
28.  Our New World
27.  Strong chance of making the list
26.  Bridges In The Sky
25.  Raise The Knife
24.  6:00
23.  I Walk Beside You
22.  No chance of making the list at this point
21.  Sacrificed Sons
20.  Take The Time Lock to make the list
19.  Caught In A Web
18.  No chance of making the list at this point
17.  Lock to make the list
16.  Lock to make the list
15.  Lock to make the list
14.  To Live Forever
13.  Lock to make the list
12.  Strong chance of making the list
11.  Surrounded
10.  Lock to make the list
9.    Innocence Faded
8.    Lock to make the list
7.    This Dying Soul
6.    Misunderstood
5.    This Is The Life
4.    Overture 1928
3.    Strange Deja Vu Lock to make the list
2.    Strong chance of making the list
1.    No chance of making the list at this point

[HOF]

Finally Free is cool. The drum outro is a highlight of the album. I also always really liked the “feeling good this Friday afternoon” part and wish they could have stretched out or repeated that vibe a bit.

Strange Deja Vu is an excellent open to SFAM. Remember being so pumped by it when I first got the album. In a way, I don’t think the rest of the album quite lives up to the promise of those first two tracks (Overture and SDV, not counting Regression). Mostly just because they set the bar so high.

Take the Time is one of the definitive DT tracks in my mind. A trademark, an ethos, a mission statement. Great playing throughout and peak JLB on the “pensive fear” segment.

[Wim Kruithof]

How many lists were submited in total? I can see Strange deja vu made it onto 65 of them. That has to be all, right? 

66. I didn't rank Strange Deja Vu. I love it and it has a perfect place in the conceptalbum, but I'll never listen to it on it's own. But I didn't rank Take the Time also, so I might need some sessions with the hypnotherapist myself. But I just enjoy 100 songs more than these.

096: Beyond This Life    72
095: I Walk Beside You     15
094: S2n     spot on
093: Never Enough     7
091: Caught In a Web     40
090: The Alien     21
089: Only a Matter of Time     7
088: Surrender to Reason     5
087: Forsaken     8
086: Through Her Eyes     12
085: The Silent Man     19
084: Constant Motion     2
083: Fall Into the Light     11
082: The Best of Times     5
080: Wait for Sleep     36
079: On the Backs of Angels     23
078: Behind the Veil     11
077: Afterlife     19
076: Hollow Years     17
074: Sacrified Sons     9
073: 6:00     39
072: Erotomania     32
069: Innocence Faded     27
068: The Enemy Inside     15
067: Pale Blue Dot     3
065: Another Day     27
063: Disappear     22
062: Peruvian Skies     18
061: Misunderstood     30
060: A Fortune in Lies     18
059: Hell's Kitchen     2
056: A Nightmare to Remember     6
055: Blind Faith     34
054: The Looking Glass     38
053: Raise the Knife     12
050: Wither     49
049: Lifting Shadows Off a Dream     14
048: Transcending Time     42
046: Barstool Warrior     6
045: The Root of All Evil     9
044: Ytse Jam     23
043: The Spirit Carries On     17
042: The Killing Hand     26
041: Sleeping Giant     44
040: Answering the Call     45
038: The Dance of Eternity     5
037: The Bigger Picture     23
036: Lines In the Sand     8
034: As I Am     9
033: At Wit's End   4
031: Endless Sacrifice     2
030: Space-Dye Vest     spot on
029: Awaken the Master     52
028: Stream of Conciousness     11
027: Honor Thy Father     44
025: Lie     22
024: One Last Time     22
022: Finally Free     3
018: Outcry     47
017: Beneath the Surface     49
016: The Shattered Fortress     63
015: The Mirror     12
014: This Dying Soul     33
012: Bridges In the Sky     11
010: The Ministry of Lost Souls     51
008: Surrounded     12
007: A View From the Top of the World     42
006: In the Presence of Enemies     16
004: Illumination Theory     21 highest

not ranked: 12 The Gift of Music / Vacant / Our New World / A New Beginning / This Is the Life / New Millennium / To Live Forever / Lost Not Forgotten / The Dark Eternal Night / Overture 1928 / Strange Deja Vu / Take the Time

[jammindude]

Finally Free - 5

Amazing song. Can’t say much that hasn’t already been said.

Strange Deja Vu -18

Nailed the aggregate!!

Take the Time -13

On my first listen to IAW, this was the track that truly raised my eyebrow and think….”hey! Maybe these guys aren’t just a Fates Warning clone!”  Loved all the jazzy weirdness right away.

[Dream Team]

Well it appears I had these quite a bit lower than the average but I'm sure that will be corrected with the next batch. The 2 SFAM songs are behind about 6 of the others on that album. High bar. Take the Time: please no rapping in DT, Mike. EVER.

  5 Only a Matter of Time
  6 The Killing Hand
  9 The Great Debate
11 Outcry
12 Overture 1928
14 Blind Faith
16 One Last Time
18 Illumination Theory
19 Beyond This Life
20 Lost Not Forgotten
21 Surrounded
22 A View From the Top of the World
24 This is the Life
25 Beneath the Surface
26 A New Beginning
27 Take the Time
28 Fall Into the Light
29 Bridges in the Sky
30 The Best of Times
31 Afterlife
33 Disappear
35 S2N
38 Constant Motion
39 Behind the Veil
40 The Enemy Inside
41 Pale Blue Dot
42 The Root of All Evil
46 Misunderstood
48 A Fortune in Lies
52 Barstool Warrior
51 Our New World
53 At Wit's End
54 Wither
55 The Alien
56 Lifting Shadows off a Dream
57 Surrender to Reason
58 Raise the Knife
59 Innocence Faded
61 I Walk Beside You
62 Endless Sacrifice
63 Awaken the Master
64 The Looking Glass
65 Wait for Sleep
66 The Bigger Picture
67 A Nightmare to Remember
68 Sleeping Giant
70 The Ministry of Lost Souls
72 The Dance of Eternity
75 Panic Attack
76 Transcending Time
78 Ytse Jam
79 Sacrificed Sons
80 Strange Deja-Vu
81 The Gift of Music
84 Answering the Call
88 The Mirror
93 Another Day
95 On the Backs of Angels
97 The Shattered Fortress

Missed the top 100: Never Enough, Vacant, Forsaken, New Millennium, Through Her Eyes, To Live Forever, Honor thy Father, The Dark Eternal Night, The Silent Man, Hollow Years, Hell's Kitchen, These Walls, Caught in a Web, Lie, This Dying Soul, Peruvian Skies, As I Am, Erotomania, Stream of Consciousness, 6:00, Space-Dye Vest, The Spirit Carries On, Lines in the Sand, ITPoE, Finally Free

Highest Ranker Of: Only a Matter of Time, Outcry

[SwedishGoose]

Finally Free ranked at 18. One spot higher than consensus. As part of SFAM it is a great piece of work. Listening to it outside the concept the intro and outro is a bit long.
Strange Deja Vu placed at 36th in my ranking. Wow  listening to this now it should possibly have switched places with Finally Free.
Take the Time took the 5th spot fot me. From the openig notes to the end this is just pure bliss. Some great twists and turns and all firing on all cyliders.... James on top form. Find all you need in your mind if you take the the time..... find all you need in Take the Time!




My ranking so far

5 Take the Time (17)
6 Another Day (38)
7 Space-Dye Vest (30)
8 One Last Time (46)
11 The Dance of Eternity (33)
12 The Spirit Carries On (26)
13 Surrounded (20)
17 The Mirror (27)
18 Finally Free (19)
19 The Silent Man (66)
20 Illumination Theory (25)
22 6:00 (34)
21 Caught In a Web (51
27 Wait For Sleep (44t)
28 Through Her Eyes  (74)
32 Awaken the Master (81)
33 Sleeping Giant (85)
35 Beyond This Life (24)
36 Strange Deja Vu (18)
37 Our New World (93)
38 Innocence Faded (42)
40 Lifting Shadows Off a Dream (35)
41 A View from the Top of the World (49t)
44 The Great Debate (53)
45 To Live Forever (76)
47 Lie (47t)
48 Erotomania (40)
50 Answering the Call (75)
54 Beneath the Surface (64)
57 Pale Blue Dot (62)
59 Transcending Time (90)
63 Bridges In the Sky (23)
64 Sacrificed Sons (63)
65 The Looking Glass (92)
66 Hollow Years (59)
61 At Wit's End ( 37)
62 Stream of Consciousness  (39)
73 As I Am (43)
74 The Root of All Evil(36)
75 The Alien (69)
77 A Nightmare To Remember (49t)
78 Misunderstood (31)
81 Behind the Veil (89)
86 Peruvian Skies (44t)
87 Surrender To Reason (83)
88 Ytse Jam (67)
89 Forsaken (95)
91. The Gift of Music (98)
94. Never Enough (100)
96 Endless Sacrifice (29)
99 These Walls (54)
100 Honor Thy Father (71)


Highest ranker of
8 One Last Time (46)

Not rated
Wither (99), Vacant (97), Afterlife (96), S2N (94), A New Beginning (91), This is the Life (88), New Millennium (87), Constant Motion (86), The Enemy Inside (84), Only a Matter of Time (82), I Walk Beside You (80), The Shattered Fortress (79), A Fortune In Lies (78), The Best Of Times (78), Lost Not Forgotten (73), Fall Into the Light (72), The Dark Eternal Night (70), The Killing Hand (68), Raise The Knife (65), The Ministry of Lost Souls (61), The Bigger Picture (60), Outcry (58),  Hell's Kitchen (57), On The Backs Of Angels (56), Panic Attack (55), Barstool Warrior (52), This Dying Soul (47t), Disappear (41), Overture 1928 (32), Lines In The Sand (28), In the Presence of Enemies (22),  Blind Faith (21)

Rated: 49
Not rated: 32

[weirdo]

So I havent commented on any song after around #90, and havent caught up to the last few updates so I will just comment on a few things I have read.

Stream of Consciousness (my #5) is the best instrumental by the band. When it comes on a playlist I cant help but stop what im doing and hand-drum my legs until they go numb (its quite a long song). Every instruments shines on this one and complements each other well. A good amount of virtuosity without getting too noodly, it remains very balanced, coherent and melodic troughout.

Glad to see misunderstood that high (#9 for me). The prechorus and chorus are great and the istrumentation overall is excellent. But unlike many others I really like the outro with the crazy guitar noise and reverse guitar stuff. The experimental nature of the whole outro sequence makes the song really stand out from all their other material.

I havent been able to get into the last 2 albums that much, it has started to sound a bit samey and uninspired for me. So most of those the song on those 2 albums is NR for me. But its also that im not as familiar for me, so it might be a negative recency bias in my case. After ranking the albums I revisited DoT and realized I should have rated some of the songs a lot higher, but well.. too late

Shocked to see Ministry of Lost Souls (my #4) that low on the ranking. Amazing and epic melodies on the verses and chorus (whatever that is) and great vocals by JLB. I love the instrumental section (like I always do with DT) and I dont think it hurts the flow, which I think is a common gripe with the song. The song would be much more one-dimensional and ballady without it. And the main theme on the intro and outro is really tasty too 

This Dying Soul (my #14) is the best song in 12SS. The outro doesnt drag, actually the extended outro is one of my favourite things in the song. Reading the praise on The Root of All Evil, I relistened it a couple of times and I gotta admit it has a really strong chorus. Those two songs blend together a bit in my mind, but I feel the instrumentation might be a bit more exciting on TDS (again nodding towards the outro). And I love the overall mood and feel of ToT, so there might be some bias on the songs on that album. Easily a top3 DT album for me, all songs on it are really strong.

Oh, and nice to see Endless Sacrifice high too. #13 on my list and one of my all time favourites. I love the instrumental section in that one too

[CharlesPL]

FF - 17
Deja Vu - 56
Time - 8

[Indiscipline]

Finally Free: 35. Good finale, great live.

Strange Deja-Vu: 32. Nice, rich, and compact. Killer JM riff.

Take the Time: 34. I love funky DT.


The Score so far:

3 - The Spirit Carries On
4 - Lines in the Sand
5 - In the Presence of Enemies
7 - Misunderstood
9 - Space-Dye Vest
11 - Beyond This Life
14 - Stream of Consciousness
17 - Bridges in the Sky
19 - Illumination Theory
21 - A New Beginning
23 - Disappear
25 - Surrounded
27 - The Best of Times
28 - Outcry
31 - Erotomania
32 - Strange Deja-Vu
33 - Surrender to Reason
34 - Take the Time
35 - Finally Free
36 - This Is the Life
38 - Hell's Kitchen
42 - Another Day
43 - One Last Time
45 - Vacant
46 - The Gift of Music
47 - Beneath the Surface
48 - The Silent Man
54 - Peruvian Skies
55 - The Dance of Eternity
56 - The Bigger Picture
61 - Wait for Sleep
64 - Blind Faith
65 - Pale Blue Dot
68 - Our New World
69 - Overture 1928
70 - Innocence Faded
71 - Behind the Veil
72 - The Looking Glass
76 - Lifting Shadows Off a Dream
77 - At Wit's End
78 - Lie
79 - Hollow Years
87 - Ytse Jam
88 - The Mirror
89 - Through Her Eyes
90 - Lost Not Forgotten
91 - 6:00
92 - The Killing Hand
93 - Endless Sacrifice
95 - Barstool Warrior
96 - Fall Into the Light
97 - A Fortune in Lies

Not Ranked: 32

[devieira73]

Finally Free (my #92). This!

19. Finally Free

The live ending with the Metropolis theme reprise is also glorious.

I hope they bring back this version, even if they don't play all the album.

Strange Deja-Vu (my #41) is a really inspired more commercial DT song and it doesn't have a solo! (maybe I miss it a bit, although it's compensate with the previous Overture 1928)

Take the Time (my #6) is such a joyful music (it's the I&W song that evokes more the album cover for me), with a bit of a funky groove, it has a bit a commercial feel and it's very prog at same time. The trade off solos are one of the best in their catalog, with amazing instrumentation beneath it. It has a great outro, that brings a lot of space for amazing improvisations live. Incredible song!!

[DragonAttack]

19.   Finally Free (#70) since TSCO is my #1, anything after would be a tough act to follow. Terrific epilogue that isn't just a rehash of what came before.

18.   Strange Déjà Vu (#4) Overture 1928 is my #3, so it only made sense ….like WWRY / WATC and 'Heartbreaker' / 'Living Loving Maid', ya just can't listen to one without the other.

17.   Take The Time (NR) * another oversight…because of ‘Only A Matter Of Time’ being on my list, I goofed and took this off.    Would have been in the 70s. I simply like all the other I&W songs more.

61/84 ****

[pg1067]

19. Finally Free

18. Strange Deja Vu

17. Take The Time

Three great songs today!  All of them fell in my 21-26 range.  SDV is a great ball-buster that continues the momentum out of O1982.  I had it at #21.  Finally Free is a great, if not overly long, ending to the album.  I had it at #26.  TTT is the least of the big 3 on I&W, and I'm a bit disappointed it's going to rank lower than UAGM.  I remember spending a lot of time learning to play this song after a transcription was published in Guitar for the Practicing Musician back in '92 or '93.  Unfortunately, I didn't yet have a 6-string bass, and my 5-string was (and still is) strung EADGC, so I had to modify the groovy riff under the first verse.  I had TTT at #23.  In the prior countdown, these songs ranked as follows:

FF:  10 (-9)
SDV:  24 (+6)
TTT:  26 (+9)



List                                                    Not Ranked         
100  This Dying Soul (47T)                  Never Enough (100), The Gift of Music (98), Our New World (93), A New Beginning (91), New Millennium (87), Sleeping Giant (85), Awaken the Master (81), The Best of Times (77), To Live Forever (75T)
99  I Walk Beside You (80)                  Answering the Call (75T), Lost Not Forgotten (73), Fall into the Light (72), Honor Thy Father (71), Raise the Knife (65), The Great Debate (53), Peruvian Skies (44T), Disappear (41), The Mirror (27)
98
97  This Is the Life (88)
96
95
94
93  Lines in the Sand (28)
92  The Ministry of Lost Souls (61)
91
90
89
88  Another Day (38)
87  Innocence Faded (42)
86  Lie (47T)
85  In the Presence of Enemies (22)
84  Forsaken (95)
83
82  Erotomania (40)
81  The Spirit Carries On (26)
80
79  Vacant (97)
78  Wait for Sleep (44T)
77  The Silent Man (66)
76
75  A Fortune in Lies (78)
74
73  A Nightmare to Remember (50)
72
71  These Walls (54)
70
69  At Wit's End (37)
68  The Shattered Fortress (79)
67  The Dark Eternal Night (70)
66  Pale Blue Dot (62)
65  Transcending Time (90)
64
63  Space-Dye Vest (30)
62
61  Beneath the Surface (64)
60  Hell's Kitchen (57)
59  Afterlife (96)
58
57  Surrender to Reason (83T)
56
55  The Alien (69)
54  The Root of All Evil (36)
53  The Bigger Picture (60)
52
51
50
49  As I Am (43)
48  A View from the Top of the World (49)
47  Lifting Shadows off a Dream (35)
46  Behind the Veil (89)
45
44  On the Backs of Angels (56)
43  Ytse Jam (67)
42  One Last Time (46)
41  Through Her Eyes (74)
40  The Dance of Eternity (33)
39  The Enemy Inside (83T)
38  Hollow Years (59)
37
36  Caught in a Web (51)
35  Barstool Warrior (52)
34  Endless Sacrifice (29)
33  Outcry (58)
32  6:00 (34)
31  The Looking Glass (92)
30  Bridges in the Sky (23)
29  Misunderstood (31)
28  S2N (94)
27  Wither (99)
26  Finally Free (19)
25  Overture 1928 (32)
24  Beyond This Life (24)
23  Take the Time (17)
22  Surrounded (20)
21  Strange Deja Vu (18)
20
19  Sacrificed Sons (63)
18  Constant Motion (86) (high ranker)
17  Only a Matter of Time (82)
16
15  The Killing Hand (68)
14  Panic Attack (55)
13  Illumination Theory (25)
12
11  Stream of Consciousness (39)
10
9  Blind Faith (21)
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

[pg1067]

1.    No chance of making the list at this point

Out of curiosity, did you have this description here from day 1?   

[Stadler]

1.    No chance of making the list at this point

Out of curiosity, did you have this description here from day 1?   

Yes; I predicted that I would have the lowest ranking (or unranked) No. 1.  And I stand by it; it's my favorite DT song.

[weirdo]

25. Illumination Theory
Had this at #8 and on hindsight I think I ranked it way too high. Probably had some sort of long song bias when I ran the list trough the ranker. Still a great song.

24. Beyond This Life
Amazing song, had it at #22

23. Bridges In The Sky
One of the best and most epic choruses in any DT song. Really strong song troughout. Ranked it #16 and after listening through my top60 or so in a playlist, I would now rank it even higher.

22. In The Presence Of Enemies
My #3. So yeah, one of the best songs the band has done 

21. Blind Faith
NR. For some reason this song has never done anything for me. Chorus feels a bit weak to me.

20. Surrounded
#15. I love the lyrics, vocal delivery, shifts in pace and mood and the guitar solo is really fun.

19. Finally Free
#6. Best song (imo) of the best DT album. Love the melodies, the twist in the story, the callbacks to previous songs and the outro.

18. Strange Deja-Vu:
#53. Suprised to see this song this high, especially surpassing FF and BTL. All the songs on SFAM are great, but this is by no means a stand out track on the album for me.

17. Take the Time:
#96. The Free Bird solo on that one live version is really awesome. But thats not even from this song  Its a good song, I just dont listen to it very frequently

[MirrorMask]

I don't think I'll have a best ranker spot. Most likely candidate was The Mirror, but I'm pleasantly surprised to see I was beaten to it. Also Take the Time, since we all suspect which songs can fill the top 5 spots, could have potentially been the one, but it didn't, so unless I'm top ranker for my #3 song (if I was beaten for The Mirror, I can't imagine no one ranked this #2 or #1), I won't be the highest ranker for any of the top 100 songs.

I can see myself however being the top ranker for several songs that didn't make the list. It would be fun to have quick statistics for the songs that didn't make the top 100 at the end of this....

[Stadler]

Is it shadowing to list my BOTTOM ten at this point?

[hefdaddy42]

All three songs today are fantastic, but I didn't have any of the 3 ranked as high as they are in the consensus.

19 Finally Free - I had this one at # 40.  Not my favorite from SFAM, but still terrific.

18 Strange Deja Vu - # 28 for me.  Still not my favorite from the album, though.

17 Take The Time - I had this at # 31, and it would probably be higher if not for the dumb chorus lyric.  But the music is amazing.


And 13 of my top 20 are still alive!

[The Realm]

87.  Finally Free Slight chance of making the list at this point

Slight chance of making the list? Sorry Stadler, I can't believe this song only ranked 19! Should have been top 10 for sure.

[The Realm]

Three great tracks today.

Finally Free - I wasn't sure I would be a high ranker for any tracks but I am for this one at number 3, sharing with Lethean (well done mate). Just an epic closing track to an epic album, laced with brilliant melodies and call backs and an all time great outro. Really shocked this didn't finish in the top 10.

Strange Deja Vu - Another great track from the same album but no where near as epic as Finally Free. My rank 27.

Take The Time - one of my least favourite tracks from I&A but I still love it. My rank 29.

Still have 8 of my top 10 to be revealed. All the rest are in my top 30 apart from one outlier at 39 (which as one whole song I don't share the love it appears to be getting by not appearing yet).

[energythief]

19. Finally Free
Highest Finish: 3 (Lethean, The Realm)

18. Strange Deja Vu
Highest Finish: 3 (NoFred, Stadler)

17. Take The Time
Highest Finish: 3 (twosuitluke)

All peaked at #3 on someone's list! Here's where my list stands:



Rank. Song Name - My Ranking
100. Never Enough - my 59
99.   Wither - my 92
98.   The Gift Of Music (No ranking)
97.   Vacant - my 29
96.   Afterlife (No ranking)
95.   Forsaken - my 21 - I was the high vote for this one!
94.   S2N (No ranking)
93.   Our New World (No ranking)
92.   The Looking Glass - my 83
91.   A New Beginning (No ranking)
90.   Transcending Time (No ranking)
89.   Behind The Veil (No ranking)
88.   This Is The Life - my 82
87.   New Millennium - my 16
86.   Constant Motion - my 84
85.   Sleeping Giant (No ranking)
83t.  The Enemy Inside (No ranking)
83t.  Surrender To Reason - my 67
82.   Only A Matter Of Time  (No ranking)
81.   Awaken The Master (No ranking)
80.   I Walk Beside You - my 35
79.   The Shattered Fortress - my 100
78.   A Fortune In Lies (No ranking)
77.   The Best Of Times - my 96
76.   To Live Forever - my 85
75.   Answering The Call (No ranking)
74.   Through Her Eyes - my 50
73.   Lost Not Forgotten - my 15
72.   Fall Into The Light (No ranking)
71.   Honor Thy Father - my 69
70.   The Dark Eternal Night (No ranking)
69.   The Alien - my 86
68.   The Killing Hand  (No ranking)
67.   Ytse Jam (No ranking)
66.   The Silent Man - my 79
65.   Raise The Knife (No ranking)
64.   Beneath The Surface - my 52
63.   Sacrificed Sons (No ranking)
62.   Pale Blue Dot (No ranking)
61.   The Ministry Of Lost Souls - my 57
60.   The Bigger Picture - my 74
59.   Hollow Years - my 64
58.   Outcry - my 49
57.   Hell's Kitchen - my 61
56.   On The Backs Of Angels - my 31
55.   Panic Attack - my 93
54.   These Walls - my 81
53.   The Great Debate - my 32
52.   Barstool Warrior (No ranking)
51.   Caught In A Web - my 73
50.   A Nightmare To Remember - my 99
49.   A View From The Top Of The World (No ranking)
47t.  Lie - my 20
47t.  This Dying Soul - my 47
46.   One Last Time - my 46
44t.  Peruvian Skies - my 9
44t.  Wait For Sleep - my 43
43.   As I Am - my 89
42.   Innocence Faded - my 75
41.   Disappear - my 24
40.   Erotomania - my 77
39.   Stream Of Consciousness - my 60
38.   Another Day - my 63

Since my last post...

37.   At Wit's End (No ranking)
36.   The Root Of All Evil - my 66
35.   Lifting Shadows Off A Dream - my 91
34.   6:00 - my 28
33.   The Dance Of Eternity - my 40
32.   Overture 1928 - my 37
31.   Misunderstood - my 39
30.   Space-Dye Vest - my 11
29.   Endless Sacrifice - my 10
28.   Lines In The Sand - my 12
27.   The Mirror - my 19
26.   The Spirit Carries On - my 55
25.   Illumination Theory - my 51
24.   Beyond This Life - my 54
23.   Bridges In The Sky - my 70
22.   In The Presence Of Enemies - my 27
21.   Blind Faith - my 7
20.   Surrounded - my 23
19.   Finally Free - my 53
18.   Strange Deja Vu - my 14
17.   Take The Time - my 26

Of the latest batch:

• We're starting to dig into my personal top songs, with my #7, 10, 11 and 12 all making an appearance.
• I definitely ranked Finally Free lower than I should have. I love the storytelling, the twist, the mood and James is on fire in this one. Interesting story: when I first downloaded the leaked album on Kazaa before its official release, the last track was The Spirit Carries On and I was still plenty happy with the album. Then my friend and I listened to the CD with our properly purchased copy and when this track started we were in shock. We didn't realize a track was missing, and it left us with our jaws on the floor when it ended.

[TAC]

19. Finally Free
Highest Finish: 3 (Lethean, The Realm)
Number of Lists appeared on: 63 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, Fonzie, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, weirdo, Wim Kruithof, wolfking, Zydar)

One of the best closing tracks in DT catalog. I love the live versions with MP doing the solos at the end.

18. Strange Deja Vu
Highest Finish: 3 (NoFred, Stadler)
Number of Lists appeared on: 65 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, Ben_Jamin, bosk1, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, DragonAttack, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, Fonzie, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, Mladen, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, Revenge319, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, wolfking, Zydar)

Kind of surprised to see this placed as high as it did. The pairing of O1928 and Strange Deja Vu is *chefs kiss*

17. Take The Time
Highest Finish: 3 (twosuitluke)
Number of Lists appeared on: 60 (Adami, Animal, Awaken, axeman90210, CanuckChum, CharlesPL, Cool Chris, Dave_Manchester, devieira73, Dittomist, Dream Team, DTwwbwMP, energythief, Evermind, Fonzie, geeeemo, hefdaddy42, Indiscipline, Jamesman42, jammindude, jeff_kinsley, JiM-Xtreme, jingle.boy, jonny108, JPZealot, KevShmev, King Puppies and the Acid Guppies, Lethean, lightningbolt, lucasembarbosa, mariner, Metro, MirrorMask, MoraWintersoul, Mosh, MustActFastToCoverUp, nobloodyname, NoFred, OpenYourEyes311, Peter Mc, pg1067, PixelDream, Podaar, porcacultor, ReaperKK, ReaPsTA, romdrums, Setlist Scotty, Stadler, SwedishGoose, TAC, The Realm, Toro, Trav86, twosuitsluke, Vmadera00, WardySI, weirdo, wolfking, Zydar)

I had Finally Free at #52.
I mean, this should've made my Top 50, but...it didn't. I definitely like it though.

I had Strange Deja Vu at #49.
I'm surprised this is in the Top 20, but there's a lot packed into this little track.

I had Take The Time at #10.
One of my favorite DT songs from Day 1. Still amazing.




List                                                    Not Ranked         
100                                                      Wither
99                                                        Vacant
98  6:00                                               Our New World
97                                                        The Looking Glass
96  The Root Of All Evil                          Transcending Time
95  Lie                                                  Behind The Veil
94                                                        New Millenium   
93  Caught In A Web                              Constant Motion
92                                                        The Shattered Fortress
91                                                        To Live Forever
90  Forsaken                                         Answering The Call
89                                                        Honor Thy Father
88                                                        The Silent Man
87                                                        Hell's Kitchen
86  Zydar                                              The Great Debate
85  Pale Blue Dot                                   As I Am
84                                                        Misunderstood
83                                                        The Mirror
82
81
80  Awaken The Master
79  On The Backs Of Angels
78  Stream Of Consciousness
77  A Nightmare To Remember
76  S2N
75  These Walls
74  Afterlife
73  This Is The Life
72  Beyond This Life
71
70  One Last Time
69  Surrender Of Reason
68
67
66
65  Sacrificed Sons
64  Beneath The Surface
63  Through Her Eyes
62  The Bigger Picture
61  I Walk Beside You
60  Never Enough
59  A New Beginning
58  Wait For Sleep
57  Illumination Theory
56  The Spirit Carries On
55
54  Barstool Warrior
53
52  Finally Free
51  Erotomania
50
49  Strange Deja Vu
48  Bridges In The Sky
47  Blind Faith
46
45  Overture 1928
44  Panic Attack
43  Innocence Faded
42  The Ministry Of Lost Souls
41  Sleeping Giant
40
39  A View From The Top Of The World
38  At Wits End
37  Fall Into The Light
36  In The Presence Of Enemies
35  The Gift Of Music
34  The Dance Of Eternity
33  Peruvian Skies
32  Lifting Shadows Off A Dream
31  Ytse Jam
30
29
28  The Enemy Inside
27
26  Only A Matter Of Time
25  Surrounded
24  Raise The Knife
23  Hollow Years
22  The Dark Eternal Night
21  Outcry
20  This Dying Soul
19
18  A Fortune In Lies
17
16  The Alien
15
14  The Best Of Times
13  Endless Sacrifice
12
11  Lost Not Forgotten.
10  Take The Time
9
8  Lines In The Sand
7  Disappear
6
5  Space Dye Vest
4  The Killing Hand
3
2
1




66-18

[pg1067]

@ReaperKK

Correct me if I'm wrong...66 total lists submitted, and we haven't yet had any song appear on every list (Strange Deja Vu made 65 lists, and that's the closest so far).  Correct?

[Lonk]

@ReaperKK

Correct me if I'm wrong...66 total lists submitted, and we haven't yet had any song appear on every list (Strange Deja Vu made 65 lists, and that's the closest so far).  Correct?

Bridges in the sky was in 65 as well. Beyond This Life made 64.

[Dream Team]

Almost positive I’ll be the top ranker of my #3 song.

[Jamesman42]

25. Illumination Theory (91st) DREAM THEATER, IF YOU'RE READING THIS, DO MORE STUFF IN THE VEIN OF THE LAST FEW MINUTES OF THIS SONG. SO GOOD.
24. Beyond This Life (88th) I'm a SFAM hater, what can I say? It's an okay song though.
23. Bridges In The Sky (8th) This song could be top 5 but the intro is too long, it's otherwise a stellar song. When JLB sings "crossing bridges in the sky", it's so good.
22. In The Presence Of Enemies (28th) Cool epic on a weird album. I don't like the Dark Master part. Everything else is good. Odd song for DT, though.
21. Blind Faith (42nd) Easily the worst track of SDOIT but still just fine.
20. Surrounded (25th) What a lovely song. Just, so bouncy but then a bit serious. DT does this style of song nicely.
19. Finally Free (76th) SFAM, yeah....
18. Strange Deja Vu (89th) Lol. The "uncanny strange deja vu" does pop into my mind at times.
17. Take The Time (19th) The energy in this song is really vibrant. JLB is having fun and the music is good.

[Jamesman42]

Almost positive I’ll be the top ranker of my #3 song.

I would also assume the heaviest hitters will have a lot of ties for #1 ranker.

[jingle.boy]

Everyone will be the top ranker (at least tied) for a minimum of one song! 

Finally Free ... 59.  Middle of the road track to close out the 3rd best concept album of all time.  Nothing wrong with it, but there is so much better on SFAM, let alone the whole discog

SDV ... 24.  Ranked right after O1928.  I don't understand how anyone can't see them hand in hand.  I mean, is there ever a reason to intentionally listen to them on their own.  The go together like peas and carrots.

Take the Time... Yeah, I too am sad it's lower than Glass Moon.  It's just a flawless tune.  A little too complex in the vocal melodies to ever do it justice live, but such an amazing tune, and this is peak James Labrie.

[Jamesman42]

You know what I mean jingle.man.